A 2397

ASSEMBLY, No. 2397
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
�
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman WILLIAM F. MOEN, JR.
District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)
Assemblywoman LINDA S. CARTER
District 22 (Somerset and Union)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman Venezia
SYNOPSIS
���� Requires each public institution of higher education
to develop food waste reduction program on campus.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
���� Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative
Counsel.
��
An Act concerning food waste at public institutions of higher
education and supplementing chapter 62 of Title 18A of the New Jersey
Statutes.�
���� Be It
Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:
���� 1.� a.� Each public
institution of higher education shall develop and implement a food waste
reduction program on each campus of the institution.� It shall be the purpose
of the program to redirect unused, excess food prepared or distributed at
campus dining halls, facilities, and events to local food security programs,
including soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters, and community nonprofits.�
The program shall ensure that all necessary and applicable food safety
standards are met throughout the selection, packaging, and transfer of food
through the program.
���� b.� Each public institution of
higher education shall submit an annual report to the Governor, and to the
Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), on its
contributions to local food security programs and post the report on its
website.
�
���� 2.� This act shall take effect
immediately.�
STATEMENT
���� This bill directs each public
institution of higher education to develop and implement a food waste reduction
program on each campus of the institution.� The purpose of the program is to
redirect unused, excess food prepared or distributed at campus dining halls,
facilities, and events to local food security programs, including soup
kitchens, food pantries, shelters, and community nonprofits.� The program is to
ensure that all necessary and applicable food safety standards are met
throughout the selection, packaging, and transfer of food through the program.
The bill directs the institution to submit an annual report to the Governor and
the Legislature on its contributions to local food security programs and post
the report on its website.